See My Friends

About See My Friends

"See My Friends" is a song by the Kinks, written by the group's singer and guitarist, Ray Davies. Released in July 1965, it reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The song incorporates a drone-effect on the electric guitar, reminiscent of the Indian sitar and tambura. Although writer Jonathan Bellman sees it as the first Western rock song to integrate Indian raga sounds (released four months before the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"). Davies biographer Johnny Rogan notes that a preceding single release ("Heart Full of Soul" by the Yardbirds) was "pre-empting Davies's innovative use of Indian music". The song is sometimes mistitled "See My Friend", because this is how the song was identified on the initial UK single pressing. However, the website of Kassner Music, which owns the publishing rights to the song, specifies the title as "See My Friends", and these are also the words Davies clearly sings throughout the track. Most subsequent issues of the song have borne the more familiar "See My Friends" title. more »